Culvert-form.



L. H. TOWNER.

CULVERT FORM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. 1914.

1,134,778. Patented Apr. 6, .1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

0 a n a a o a n o n o n D 56A 0 1 56 WITNESSES I INVENTOR 6926M 15/70/42 Emu 97 4A1, 361W W ATTORNEYS IHE NORRIS PETERS C0,, PHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON, D. C.

LEROY HILLER. 'IOWNER, or MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA.

CULVERT-FORM;

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Application filed. March 3, 1914. Serial No. 822,148.

. shape, until the material has been hardened to a point where it will stand alone, and which then may be disassembled and removed to permit its reassembling at another point.

t In the drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the improved form, Fig. 2 is a side view with parts in section, Fig. 3 is an en larged detail section of the connection between sundry of the elements, Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical section, and Fig. 5-is an enlarged end view.

The present embodiment of the invention is designed to permit the building of culverts or small bridge arches across the roads, where transverse drainage is necessary, and the form consists of four principal units, namely, the arch support or form upon which the arch is molded, the outer or side form which holds the concrete in place on the arch form during the setting of the plastic material, and the two head wall forms, one at each end of the form.

The first unit or arch support consists of the series of plates 1 of arched or concavoconvex shape, arranged alongside each other with their ends abutting, and connected at the said ends, as shown in Fig. 3. The

arched strip 2 is secured to the end of one of the sections, by means of rivets 3 or the like, in such manner that approximately onehalf of the width of the strip extends beyond the adjacent end of the section, to lap upon the inner face of the adjacent section.

It will be evident that the strip 2 may be dispensed with if desired, and that each section may be providedwith a flange offset r laterally inward from the plane of the section, to lap upon the innerface of the .adjacent section, in the same mannerYas the strip 2, shown in Fig. 3. The strip 2 or the flange is rovided to prevent the concrete from passm-ginward between the meeting Patented Apr. 6, 1915.

ends of the section. Each of the side edges of each of the plates 1 is secured to one of the integral portions of an angle plate 4, each of the said angle plates consisting of portions'arranged at approximately a rlght angle with respect to each other. The angle 7 plates 4 are connected to the plates 1 by means of rivets or the like, and the angle plates of all of thevsections areconnected to a common support at each side of the form. Each of the said supports is a channel bar consisting of a body 5 and flanges 5 and 5 extending parallel with each other, at approximately a right angle from the body. The channel bars are arranged with their bodies vertical, and with the flanges 5 'and 5 extending horizontally, and preferably the flange 5 is of greater length than the flange 5. The form sections are arranged with the portions of the angle plates 4 seated on the upper face of the flanges 5' of the channel bars, and each of the portions 4: of

the angle plates is provided with openings at suitable intervals, which are designed to register with similar openings in the flange 5 of each channel bar. Pins 6 are passed through the openings, for holding the angle plates in place, and the channel bars are held in spaced relation in any suitable manner,

in the present instance by means of spreader bars 7 The pins 6 in the present instance are threaded at one end, and a nut 8 is threaded onto the threaded end. The pin is provided with an opening near the opposite end, and is passed through the openings'of the angle plate and the'channel bar, until the nut 8 engages the upper face of the portion 4* of the angle plate. A. nail or pin 8 is then passed through the openings, to hold the angle plate on the channel bar. It is obvious that pins of any other form might be used, or ordinary bolts if desired. The ends of the spreader bar -7 are threaded, as shown at 9, andnuts 10 and 11 are arranged on the threaded portions on each side of the body of the adjacent support. By turning as may be desired, two being provided in tothe'proper 105 hi esen i a e? 9 ash te ft supports. Culverts of the character in question are of a predetermined and constant length as a rule, especially with metal roads, which are of usually the same width. In any event a road is as a rule of the same Width from one end to the other, so that a form of a fixed length may be used. The supports are of a length to extend beyond the ends of the form.

The outer or supporting unit comprises a series of arc-shaped or wicket-shaped bars of T-cross section, each bar comprising a body 12 arranged perpendicularly above the inn er or arch supporting form, and flanges 12 extending on both sides of the body, the said flanges being at the inner edge of the body, as shown in Fig. 4. The arches 12 are ar ranged intermediate the ends of the form and other bars 13 are arranged at the ends of the form, the said bars being angle bars or of L-cross section. Each flange of the bars 12 is provided with hooks 14, arranged at suitable intervals, and transversely arched plates 15 are connected with the hooks, the plates having slots 16 for engaging the hooks. Each plate is also provided with a lateral flange 17 at its upper side edge. The hooks 14 are arranged to engage the slots, and enough hooks are provided at each side of the form to properly support the plates at the said side. The plates extend about two-thirds of the distance toward the centers of the arch bars, leaving the top of the form open, to permit the insertion of the plastic material. The arch bars 1212 are spaced apart, and preferably the sheets 15 are of suflicient width, such that but a single sheet is necessary at each side between the adjacent arch bars, although it is obvious that a plurality might be used.

The flanges 1.3 of the end arch bars 13-13 are provided with hooks 14 in the same manner as the flanges 12 of the arch bars 12, and the plates are provided at their ends with other slots 16 for engaging the hooks. The plates 15 are supported by the hooks, and each hook is provided with an angular lug at its outer end, for overlying the outer face of the plate, to prevent outward 0r lifting movement of the plate.

Each of the head wall forms consists of an inner plate 18, and an outer plate 19. The inner plate 18, as shown in Fig. 4, is secured to the body 13 of the adjacent end arch bar, and the lower edgeof the plate is recessed to fit flush with the inner face of the flange 13 Rivets 20 are provided for connecting the plates to the body 13 of the end arch bar, and the said plate 18 is provided at each end with an angle bar.

Each of the angle bars 21-21" has one of its portions 21 secured to the end of the plate 18, by means of rivets 22 or the like, and the portion 21 of each of the angle plates extends laterally inward, the angle plates be ing secured to the inner face of the end plate. The outer end plate 19 has its lower edge recessed to fit the outer surface of the inner arch or supporting form, as shown in Fig. 5. An arch bar consisting of portions 23 and 23 is connected with each outer end plate at the recess, the portion 23 of each angle plate being secured to the end plate by means of rivets 24 or the like.

The portion 23 of the angle plate extends laterally outward from the outer face of the end plate 19 and each end of the said portion is provided with an inwardly extending lug 25, which rests upon the flange 5 of the adjacent channel bar 5-5-5". The said lugs 25 have openings which register with openings in the flanges 5 of the channel bars, and the pins 6, before mentioned, are engaged with the openings to connect the lugs to the channel bars. The ends of the outer plates 19 are also reinforced by angle plates 26, each plate consisting of a portion secured to the plate 19 by rivets 27 or the like, and a portion extending laterally outward from the face of the plate. One portion of each angle plate 21 and one portion of each angle plate 26 is provided with hooks 28 similar to the hooks 14 before mentioned, and closing plates 29 are engaged with the hooks, for closing the ends of the end Wall forms. The plates 29 have slots for engaging the hooks, and the said plates are of a width to extend to the outer edges of the angle plates. Thus a head wall form is provided at each end of the complete form, the said head wall forms being open at the top. The outer plate 19 may also be reinforced at its upper edge with an angle plate 30, one portion of the angle plate 30 being secured to the plate 19 by means of rivets 31 or the like. It will be noticed from an inspection of Fig. 2, that the bodies 5 of the channel bars have longitudinally extending slots 32 at their ends for receiving the spreader bars 7. One portion of each arch bar 23 connected with the adjacent outer plate 19 has openings through which are passed pins 33, the said pins engaging the openings and other openings in the sections 1. Y

The form is assembled in the following manner: The supporting channel bars 5 li -5 are first placed in proper position, at the point where the culvert is to be built, and they are connected in spaced relation by means of the spreader bars. The sections of the inner form wall arch support are now placed, and are connected to the channel bars by means of the pins 6. The arch bars 12 are then arranged in proper position, and the plates 15 are connected to the arch bars. The inner walls 18 with the arch bars 13 attached are then placed at the ends of the outer form wall, after which the outer plates 19 are connected with the ends of the inner form wall, and the plates 29 are connected with the plates 18 and 19 at each end of the form. The form is now ready for receiving the plastic material. After the material has set, the form is disassembled, the head wall forms and the outer supporting wall being first removed- The inner form wall or arch support is removed last. In order to remove this form wall, the spreader bars are first removed, by loosening the nuts 10 -11, and withdrawing the. spreader bars from the slots 32. The channel bars are then knocked toward each other, after which the sections of the supporting arch may be removed. The several sections will drop out of contact with the arch when the channel bars have been removed.

It will be obvious that the improved form may be of any desired length, and by providing openings at the proper place in the bodies of the channel bars, for receiving the spreader bars, the length of the form may be varied, by removing the sections from the inner and outer walls. If desired, the plates 15 may be of various lengths, as indicated in Fig. 1, so that a long or short section may be removed from the outer form wall.

The form as a whole may be easily transported, and may beeasily assembled and disassembled. The manner of supporting the inner form wall, that is on the removable channel bars, provides for the quick'removal of the inner form wall, and without making the sections expansible and contractible.

I claim 1 A device of the character specified, comprising an inner form wall or arch support, said wall comprising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the adjacent end of the adjacent section and each section having at each of its side edges an inwardly extending flange, channel bars for supporting the sections, said bars being arranged with their channels inwardly, one of the side flanges being adapted to rest upon the supporting surface for the form and the other being adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges at the sides of the sections, means for detachably connecting the flanges to the flanges of the channel bars, releasable means for spacing the channel bars, an outer form wall comprising arch bars, each bar comprising a perpendicular body having at its inner side edge laterally extending flanges, arc-shaped plates supported by the flanges, the flanges and plates having interengaging means for preventing outward movement of the plates, arch bars at the ends of the outer form wall, said arch bars being of angle material and consisting of two portions arranged at apbars, and an outer head wall form at each end. of the inner form wall and having means for detachably connecting the form wall, and end plates detachably connected witlli the inner and outerplates of each head wal 2. A device of the character specified, comprising an inner form wall or arch support, said wall comprising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the ad jacent end of the adjacent section and eachsection havinga't each of its side edges an inwardly extending flange, channel bars for supporting the sections, said bars being arranged with their channels inwardly, one of .the side, flanges being adapted to rest upon the supporting surface for the form and the other being adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges at the sides of the sections, means for detachably connecting the flanges to the flanges of the channel bars, releasable means for spacing the cha1inel bars, an outer form wall comprising arch bars, each bar comprising a perpendicular bodyohaving at its inner side edge laterally extending flanges, arc-shaped plates supported by the flanges, the flanges and plates iaving inter-engaging means for preventing outward movement of the plates, arch bars at the ends of the outer form wall, said arch bars being of angle material and consisting of two portions arranged at approxi mately a right angle, one of the said portions being perpendicular and the other being provided with supporting means for supporting the plates of the outer wall.

3. A device of the character specified, comprising an inner form wall or arch support, said wall comprising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the adjacent end of the adjacent section and each section having at each of its side edges an inwardly extending flange, channel bars for supporting the sections, said bars being arranged with their channels inwardly, one of the side flanges being adapted to rest upon the supporting surface. for the form and the other being adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges at the sides of the sections, means for detachably connecting the flanges to the flanges of the channel bars, releasable means for spacing the channel bars, a sectional retaining wall at each side of the inner form and spaced apart therefrom, and a common means for supporting the sections of each retaining wall.

4. A device of the character specified,

, comprising an inner form Wall or arch support, said wall comprising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the adjacent end of the adjacent section and each section having at each of its side edges an inwardly extending flange, channel bars for supporting the sections, said bars being arranged with their channels inwardly, one of the side flanges being adapted to rest upon the supporting surface for the form and the other being adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges at the sides of the sections, means for detachably connecting the flanges to the flanges of the channel bars, and releasable means for spacing the channel bars.

5. A device of the character specified, comprising an inner form wall or arch support, said wall comprising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the adjacent end of the adjacent section and each section having at each of its side edges an inwardly extending flange, channel bars for supporting the sections, said bars being arranged with their channels inwardly, one of the side flanges being adapted to rest upon the supporting surface for the form and the other being adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges at the sides of the sections, means for detachably connecting the flanges to the flanges of the channel bars, said means comprising registering openings in the flanges of the plates and in the uppermost flanges of the channel bars, and pins for engaging the openings.

6. In a device of the character specified, comprising an inner form wall or arch support, said wall comprising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the adjacent end of the adjacent section and each section having at each of its side edges an inwardly extending flange, channel bars for supporting the sections, said bars being arranged with their channels inwardly, one of the side flangesbeing adapted to rest upon the supporting surface for the form and the other being adapted to receive the inwardly extending flanges at the sides of the sections, and means for detachably connecting the flanges to the flanges of the channel bars.

7. In a device of the character specified, an inner form wall or arch support, com- Copies of this patent may be obtained for prising a series of arched plates or sections, each plate having its side edges inwardly flanged, a longitudinally extending supporting bar at each side of the form wall upon which the flanges of the sections rest, means for spacing the bars and for holding them in spaced relation, and a detachable connection between the flanges of each plate and the bars, each plate having at one end a flange adapted to fit within the adjacent end of the succeeding plate.

8. In a device of the character specified, an outer form wall comprising arch bars, each bar comprising a perpendicular body having at its inner side edge laterally extending flanges, arc-shaped plates supported by the flanges, the flanges and plates having interengaging means for preventing outward movement of the plates, arch bars at the ends of the outer form wall, said arch bars being of angle material and consisting of two portions arranged at approximately a right angle, and one of the said portions being perpendicular and the other being provided with supporting means for supporting the plates of the outer wall.

9. In a device of the character specified, an outer form or retaining wall for cooperating with an inner form wall, and comprising arch bars arranged transversely of the outer form wall, each bar having oppositely extending flanges at its inner edge, supporting hooks on the flanges, and transversely arched plates having slots at their ends for engaging the hooks, the ends of said arch plates engaging the arch bars to prevent longitudinal movement of the plates, the bills of the hooks engaging the outer faces of the plates to hold them in place.

10. In a device of the character specified, an outer form or retaining wall for cooperating with an inner form wall, and comprising arched bars arranged transversely of the outer form wall, each bar having oppositely extending flanges at its inner edge, transversely arched plates for engaging the outer faces of the flanges, and means for detachably connecting the plates to the flanges, the ends of said arch plates engaging the arch bars to prevent longitudinal movement of the plates.

LEROY HILLER TOWVNER. Witnesses L. A. WVHEELER, L. B. TOWNER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

